Winter had its own beauty, when it wasn’t trying to kill pups. Halcyon couldn’t help but be bitter at the colder months. After all, when he was an untrained welp, it had tried everything to wipe him off the face of the earth. Starving, freezing, near death, the child had come close to joining his parents in the afterlife. But , Fate would have other plans. Thanks to Athine, the child was saved and grew into the strong male that wandered the freelands now. Like his father before him, Halcyon had become a loner after spending several years in the protection of a pack. His very short time as an alpha had taught him something important. It wasn’t for him. Pack life had been nice, but what else was there? Each day was spent marking the borders, hunting for others, watching his P’s and Q’s. But as a free wolf, he could do whatever he wanted. It was rough, but soon he mastered the lifestyle and found he liked it.

The blood that ran through his veins was that of a wandering warrior. The young wolf looked the part, thanks to his rugged appearance and deep scars along his throat. He was lean, but not in an unhealthy way. Under the fur were powerful muscles that only a life alone could form. But more than that, was the bright light that was shining behind his honey colored eyes. The russet wolf was having the time of his life! Even now, as he neared the end of an impossible hunt, he was elated. The moose calf was bigger, faster, and twice as strong as he was. That wasn’t going to stop the wolf from nipping at its heels and chasing it far away from the herd. Inevitably, the calf won and darted into the woods as Halcyon collapsed to the ground, tongue lolling and chest huffing wildly as he tried to catch his breath.

Then, he started to laugh. Rolling on his back in the snow, he barked happily, unware that he was being watched. How long she had been sitting on the top of the rock, he would never know. It was only when her scent reached his nose that he flipped over and stared at her. Tail wagging, he pranced over to her and bowed his head. "Greetings, m’lady! How are you doing on this lovely day?" he asked, staring up at her on her boulder throne. He knew nothing about the wolfess, how his actions could have startled her or caused her discomfort. Waiting patiently for her to reply, he sat on his haunches, letting the sun warm the snow that litter his back.